Nail distributor



April 28, 1953 w. M. CUTLER ET AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 17, 1948 Qww fizz/anions Wallace NCuZ/er- Eda/i215. Kant Hem" Ndr z 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. M. CUTLER ET AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR ms :11am :5:::'E'-

April 28, 1953 Original Filed Dec. 17, 1948 April 28, 1953 w. M. CUTLER ET AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 8 0 02802 4 4 0, 4 02 a 2 4 a w v w w a ma a 5 W F mw 5 5 4 1 awwm m mm nm 5 11 6 1 4 [T VkA w Ww 6 0 WZ U a M Q a 1 4 3 L 0 6 0 a 7 5 6 5 9 ml 4 $4 0 9 9 4 FM f 4 ma 5 4 7 m. 2 5 44 .v r m 4 4 M 0 0 4 Q 6 a 24 7 4 MM 4 BGrecnou Adm);

Han

April 28, 1953 w. M. CUTLER ET AL 2,636,169

NAIL DISTRIBUTOR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 H M /Z96 Z94 I 550 30 a I V 3/4 fizuen fans :1 Mb/Zace/ZCuf/er ,0 234 3% 245 186 Edwin/Jhcmf 304 Henry BGreenoughDecH 308 7 196 Mary RG21? enau qh/ldmz.

their /lfirnc April 28, 1953 w. M. CUTLER ET AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Dec. 17, 1948 w QR m April 28, 1953 w. M. CUTLER ET AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed Dec. 17, 1948 8h 1 l ghDecd. emughAd/nx. glassy b 1/6 12 in n? Wallace/(Cutler Ed Gre enau r y Fri G e Hen Ma W. M. CUTLER ET AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR 8 m n 3 w ass w M m wmn l m m E MMM s, F K M m 5" g vb... %Nm mm QQW A m ||III \||\|L wmn an @m mm April 28, 1953 w. M. CUTLER ET AL NAIL DISTRIBUTOR l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Original Filed Dec. 17, 1948 [nuen for;

April 28, 1953 w. M. CUTLER ET AL 2,636,169

NAIL DISTRIBUTOR Original Filed Dec. 17, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented Apr. 28 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NAIL DISTRIBUTOR Original application December 17, 1948, Serial No. 65,868. Divided and this application June 9, 1951, Serial No. 230,758

This invention relates to distributors for fastenings and is illustrated as embodied in a nail distributor for use with a heel attaching machine.

As explained in an application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 65,868, filed December 17, 19%8, of which the present application is a division, and issued as U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,694,- 624, on July 29, 1952, and United States Letters Patent No. 1,381,240 granted June 14, 1921, on an application filed in the name of Joseph H. Pope, there is disclosed a nail distributor having a nail carrier which is vibrated upon vertically disposed rocker arms opeartively connected to an eccentric drive rotatable in a base of the distributor, said base being bolted to the machine frame of a heel attaching machine with which the distributor is used. Vibratory movement of such a distributor shakes the heel attaching machine excessively and causes considerable wear and tear on the distributor itself, with the result that the distributor has to be serviced frequently. Moreover, the frequency of vibration of the distributor of the above-mentioned type cannot be increased without unduly shaking the heel attaching machine upon which it is mounted and losing control of the nails in the distributor. Furthermore, it is desirable, both from economical and mechanical viewpoints to provide distributors in small units, one or more ofwhich may be supplied in accordance with the requirements of the work which the heel attaching machine is to operate upon. Heretofore it has been impossible to supply distributors as separate small units for use upon a single frame of a heel attaching machine because the vibration of one distributor rendered it difiicult if not impossible to control the nails in the other distributor or distributors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved distributor which is smooth and reliable in its operation and will effectively handle nails of all lengths and which will stand up under 16 Claims.

constant use with a minimum of repair and will In the illustrative construction the nail carrier is mounted upon the upper ends of vertically dis- 2 posed leaf springs supported by a base secured to a frame of a heel attaching machine, the opposite sides of the leaf springs facing generally lengthwise of nail guideways or raceways of the machine so that said carrier may be moved in a horizontal path extending generally lengthwise of weight with relation to the carrier in a horizontal direction upon the leaf springs which support the weight, the resistance ofiered by said weight causing the carrier to be moved in an opposite direction on its supporting springs, the relative masses of the carrier and the weight being such that the carrier has a horizontal displacement about one-third of that of the weight.

The throw of the connecting rod, and accordingly the horizontal displacement of the carrier,

may be varied by changing the eccentricity of the eccentric in the powered unit. In order to insure that the carrier shall not deviate substantially from a horizontal path as it vibrates, the powered unit in accordance with another feature of the invention, comprises mechanism which is movable in response to adjustment of the eccentric and is operatively connected to counterweights of said unit in order to counterbalance said unit irrespective of the eccentricity and accordingly the throw of the eccentric.

The present invention consists in'the above and other novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate embodiments of th invention selected for purposes of illustration, said invention being fully set forth in the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figs. land2 are side and plan views respectively, partly broken away, showing the illustrative nail distributor;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, on line III III of Fig. 1, showing a. base portion of the nail distributor and mechanism mounted thereon; partly broken. away. 1

Fig. 4 isan enlarged view, showing in plan a front portion of the distributor;

Fig. 5 is a view on line V--V of Fig. 4 showing in side elevation a front gate of a nail carrier of the distributor;

Fig. 6 is a sectior on line vI-wr Fig. 4 show... ing a nailroll', a nail stop and conduit" into which nails are dumped from said roll;

Fig. 7 is a section on line VIIVII of Fig. 3

showing cam actuated mechanism for operating.;,

the nail roll;

Fig. 8 is a section on line=VIII+V1II;o f -Fig. 1; showing in detail a one-revolution clut housed; in the nail roll operating carn shownun F e. s t omp l ro en w ya r ine- XIITX IIQi F 1 Showin av dynamically coun-.. rhalaneed varia le. di cemen iv e vjie. ra ing henafi. car i 13 ase t qnon ine XIIIrX II. Q F e- 12. he-wine. in det il. mechanism. or: var n the m lit deqf vibra ione g arr er;

ri .4= la. QQ1 Q on line XIV- IV rri 1 how ng; ort f; mech nism. for u om te ally ou terhal nc ns.x he r a le i l em n drive;

3 .41% a d a am llu ratin he; paths f travel oi; centers of mass of; an; eccentric and an I adjacent half" of a connectingrod30n the one hand. dunt r ei h n. h other nd asthethrow of the eccentric is varied;

Ea, 5: c n. e Y+XV f. g; owin ace y n n w por iq eoi he. r ie 5A 1s; io i. n. i e. XVA.XV.A fiFie- 3' h wi m a Ol. ri the nailw ye i. their proper operating relations; to the raceways Fig. '1 B shows in perspective a nail stopg use'd, asilIuStrated in Fig; 15,- to close,i"'when desir} able; racewaysof the carrier;

Fig; 16; showson an enlarged-scale a central part of the section shownin Fig. 1 5

Fi e a lv w how n nisid i l va tion portions of 'mechanismjcr operating, raceg way; and =nailway clearers' o t-the naildistributor;

Fig. 18 is at vertical section showing the fc rf er i n 0f the il; arr e qui pedj ithe. mq fi inai i r l a nai r 1 era in .m a: msm;

' is 95 ee on on of, Fi 18:

Fig, 19A is a view online XIXA XDCAofEFig. hbw n nrlan: p iqns ail 0 1. operating mechanism;

Fig. 20-is a section on line of Fig. 19 showing in dctail'the modified'nail roll';

Fi f0 h0w. an t r odified. '01; hi h. can be usedin-place ofthe roll illustrated'in Figs 19 and 20; and

Figs. 21 and 2-2-are views showing; in sideelevatiorrmechanism for-operating the modifiednail roll: illustrated-; in Figs,v 18; 1-9 -and 20' at two stages in the operation of saidroll;

:The'iillustrativei nail: d-istributor--- comprises a fixed base-.or.main .frame-30 whichiis secured by shown) of a heel attaching machine such, for example, as disclosed in an application for United StatesLetters Patent Serial No, 281,392, filed i- 1 2. n u mes- Sccured'by bolts 36 (Figs. 1 and 3) to the base 3110f the distributor are front and rear pairs of vertically disposed leaf springs 38, 40, respectively u pper ends of which are secured by bolts 42 (Figs. 1 and 2) toa nail carrier 44. The car- --r;ier 44--comprisesraceways 45 (Figs. 1, 2, 11, 15 and; 16') and.:na ilways 43 (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 15; 1 .;a nd j18);as, well as other elements hereinafterdescribedjfcr delivering, in response to movement qtnailioading mechanism of said heel attaching machine, nails 50 (Figs. 4, 6, 16 and 18) dumpedirombuckets-M (Fig. 1) of a rotary nail drum-54;: head -first' into tubes 56 (Figs. 1 and 5), upper ends of" which are attached in slots 51 (Figs-.1; la -and 19) of the carrier and lower ends of which are attached to a foot plate (not shown) erm n a rmf el ttach n t de red. o .v bra e. or..,.os.ci et the. ar 4 a au e hene la l q areidown the: wa s. .4.fi.anci ai w rs Acszordi e yi the chine isprovided. with mechanism, hereinaiter scribed, ndetail. or. ibrat e the Car i r. p n. n s .8.: 4B forwa a d 1; rearw rd; n, a. hqrizc talrath Withoutny. ubstanti lhei it wise or idt wi e ompen ni h me t m:

p ume of v brat on th a i r. he ngj ar d ni e er ence. th llel n i nd; o s t i hena lse ne h ndl -1 A .w e. 1 in d in ,order toinsureagainst any unbalanced forces being imparted: to thje carrier ll-dand thuscaus- .ing said carrier" to vibrate out of its horizontal path and especially heightwise; thereby losing; control-of :nails; in the raceways 46 and nailways 48; the mechanism for vibrating said-carrier is dynamically balanced.

Power for operating the naildistributor'is supplied by a constantly rotating motor (not shown) which isbolted to the bracket 3-;4 and; through--a- V-belt 584mg. 9;), drives a pulleyGtWFigs. 1, 2;3 and'9) securedby-screwsG-Z toan outer half Mot a, two-partpulley be; said' outer half being-secured'bythe screws 62 toarrouter-or hollow; shaft sha-it l2; said-'sha-its 68; i2 being-rotatable in ball bearings 14, 15 respectively mounted inthe base 30;; Also securedto-the-hollow-shafb68' by-- screws 'ifi is an inner-portion 78) of a;pu1le y B0; inner-and -outerhalves 82 84 of: the pulleys 6-6; 8fl-respectively having secured tothem: pins 86-,

88 i (Fig; 9.)- which fitslidingly in elongated slots r 90; 9-2 formed in the hollowshatt and 'also fit slidingly-in elongated slots 64;: 96- formeddm an inner shaft 98 (Figs.- 3- and 9 longitudinally slidable in the hollow shaft 68; Mounted on the inner. and outer halves 82; 84 of:thespul1eyse66., a respectively are'inner races of A ball 1 bearings l 00; [02 to outer races of which -are secured belt-receiving drums-HM;- we: Thepins-8.6; fla -are engaged by opposite ends of= a compressed spring- I08 housed in th inner-shaft BB;said spring-confifi respectively maybe rendered ineffective. For reasons-which. will be.explained later, when-the pulley. 665 is rendered ineffiective an upper dis tributon (notshown) normally driventhrough a 34 (Fig. 1.) formingepartiofwaefixed frame (not 75,,.toioperateandwhenthepulley t'fl isrendered in:

effective the carrier 44 ceases to vibrate on the leaf springs 38, 40.

The inner shaft 98 is slid lengthwise of the outer shaft 66 by a yoke II6 (Figs. 3, 9 and 10) which is secured by a screw II1 to a fulcrum rod Iii! journaled in the base 36, sides of the yoke having slots I26 in which fit trunnions I22 carried by an annulus I24 (Figs. 3 and 9) secured to an outer race of a ball bearing I26, an inner race of which is vbindingly fixed to a sleeve I28 slidingly mounted upon the outer shaft 68. A pin I36 secured to the sleeve I28 and to the inner shaft tit passes through elongated slots I32 (Fig. 9) in the outer shaft 68. It will thus be apparent that when the yoke H6 is swung counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 9, the inner half 82 of the pulley 66 will be moved away from the outer half 64 of such pulley, thereby moving the driving face III) of the pulley away from an opposed driving face of said pulley and rendering the belt II I ineffective. Similarly, when the yoke H5 is swung clockwise from its position shown in Fig. 9 during the dumping of nails 56 from a nail roll I34, the outer half 84 of the pulley 66 is moved away from the inner half 18 of said pulley to render the pulley inefiective thus stopping rotation of a shaker shaft assembly I36, which will be described in detail later and is operated by a belt I36 driven by the pulley 6i).

Arranged in alinement with the shaft 66 is the solid shaft 12 which has fixed to it a worm I46 (Figs. 1, 3 and 9) meshing with a worm gear Hi2 (Fig. 9) secured to a longitudinal shaft M l (Figs. 3, 9 and 17) rotatable in bearings I46 (Figs. 1 and 3) in the base 36. Splined for rotation with but movable lengthwise of the shaft M4 are a pair of gears I43, I56 which are secured together and are rotated with but are slid lengthwise of the shaft I44 by a yoke-shaped shifter I52 fingers of which are arranged adjacent to opposite sides of the gears.

Mounted for rotation in bearings I54 in the base is a longitudinal shaft I56 (Figs. 1, 3 and 17) to which are secured a pair of gears I58, I66 arranged in overlapping relation as viewed in plan (Fig. 3) with gears I48, I56 which, as above stated, may be slid lengthwise of the shaft I44 by the shifter I52 to move the gears I48, I56 into meshing relation with the gears I58, I80 respectively or, if desirable, to move the gears I48, I56 into neutral position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 out of engagement with either of the gears I58, I66. Ihe shifter I52 is secured to an operating rod I62 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) rotatable in bores in the base 36 and having at its outer end a handle I64 which may be swung one way or the other selectively by the operator to move the gears I43, I56 to the right or to the left (Figs. 1 and 3) onthe shaft I44 in order to'drive the shaft I56 and accordingly the nail drum 54 supported by mechanism, hereinafter described, at different operating speeds, or to move the gears I48, I to neutral positions out of engagement with the gears I56, I66 to stop rotation of the shaft I56 and accordingly the nail drum 54. Pinned to the shaft I56 is a nail drum supporting sleeve I66 (Fig. 3) formed integral with a pulley I66 which drives, through a belt I16 (Figs. 1 and 3), a pulley I12 formed integral with a nail drum supporting sleeve I14 mounted upon a bearing rod I16 secured to the base 30. The nail drum 64 is of a conventional type and has a cylindrical face I18 (Fig. 1) in engagement with bosses of the nail drum supporting sleeves I66, I14 and a circumferentialrib I80 which fits in v-shaped circular grooves I 82 of said sleeves. The sleeves I 66', I14 are also provided with grooves IB i for supporting a different type of nail drum (not shown).

Mounted upon the forward end of the shaft I44 is a compound cam I86 (Figs. 1, 3, 7, 10, 21 and 22) which houses a one-revolution clutch, said clutch being operated during each cycle of the heel attaching machine in response to mechanism hereinafter described and comprising a rod I86 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) operated by an arm I96 (Fig. 3) which supports a loader block I92 of said machine. The cam I86 has a front face I94 (Figs. 1, 7 and 10) a major portion of which is deeply serrated and which is engaged by a cam roll I96, and said cam has in its rear face a groove I98 (Figs. 3 and 10) in which fits a roll 266 of a lever 262 normally secured, by mechanism which will be described presently, to the yoke II6. The yoke I I6, as above explained, cooperates with mechanism hereinafter described to cause the shaker shaft assembly I36 (Fig. 12) to be rendered ineffective and accordingly vibra tion of the carrier 44 to cease while the nail roll IE4 is being operated, thereby insuring against nails being fed down the raceways 46 and nailways 46 while the nail roll is displaced from its nail receiving position shown in Fig. 6. In order to expedite the dumping of the nails from the roll I 34 into conduits 26d (Figs. i, 6 and l8) which willbe referred to later, a major portion of the face ISM of the cam I86 is serrated as above stated so that the roll shall be vibrated slightly about its axis 266 (Figs. 1 and 4) as the nails are being dumped.

Pinned to the front end of the yoke carrying fulcrum rod H8 is a triangular plate 266 (Figs. 3 and 10) which carries a pair of studs 2H3, 2I2. Threaded into a forward extension of the lever 262 is a bearing stud 2M (Figs. 3 and 10) upon which is pivoted with a slight amount of play a hand lever 2I6 provided with an elongated slot 2H) for receiving the stud 2H) and a bore 226 for receiving the stud 282. A coil spring 222 which is interposed between the lever 2i 6 and a head of the stud 2M serves to urge the lever against the plate 206. When the hand lever 2 I 6 is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 10 the lever 262 and the yoke II6 are secured for movement together, the lever 262 actuated by the cam I86 serving to move, through mechanism above described, the inner shaft 96 to the right from the position shown in Fig. 9 to render, during the operative cycle of the machine, the pulley 66 ineffective and thus to stop vibration of the carrier MI. When it is desired to render the pulley 66 inefiective and accordingly to stop an upper distributor (not shown) actuated by the belt lid on said pulley the hand lever 2I6 is swung forward slightly, against the action of th spring 222, away from the plate 208 causing the bore 226 to become disengaged from the stud 2 I 2, said hand lever thereafter being swung clockwise as viewed in Fig. 10 upon the stud 2M with the result that the yoke I E6 is swung counterclockwise and the inner shaft is slid to the left to render the pulley 66 ineifective. When it is desired to render ineffective the pulley 8i) and accordingly the shaker shaft assembly I36, the hand lever 2I6 is swung away from the plate 266, causing the bore 226 to be disengaged from the stud 2I2, and is thereafter swung upward about the stud 2M causing the outer portion 84 of the pulley to be moved away from the inner portion 18 of such pulley to render said pulley ineffective.

Mechanism for operating the nail roll I34 from its-nail receiving toits nail dumping position comprises the can; roll I96 which is ariied'by a lever 224 (Figs; 1, 3,7,2; and 22) elairiped by screws-226 tothe central portion or a fulerum pin 2'28 jourriale'd in the base 3U: secured to the left end of the pin 228, as viewed from the front of the distributor is ai'i fifistahdih g' lever 230 013'- eiatively connected through an adjustable link 232 (Figs. 1; 2, 3, 4'an'd 7) to am 234 secured by a b01t-236 (Fig. 4) to a left trunhioh portion 238 or the nail-roll I34; Attached'tothe upper endof the lever 230 is a sprir'ig'239 the forward end ar which is secured to the carrier 44, said spring Se'r'Vin'gf during a lj'drtioh or the cyele of operation of the distributor to retain the eain r011 IB'Bag'aihSttheface lfid of the 03:1?1186. secured-tothe nan" r011 [34 is an arm 23l hailing threadedifito it a screw 2'33which when-the nail rollis in its hail reeeiving po'sition shown 6 is held-by the"siiriae zssmrorced engagement with a stop plate 235 secured to the carrier 44. The eaiii' I85 houses a one=revolution clutch which is aotuated by mechanism hereinafter d'e 'r'ibed upon movement of the loade block carrymg arm I90 toward the above=meritioned nailing die iiiot' showh) of the heel attaching machine. The elutch-eo'mprises acollar 2 49 (Fig. 8) which has apmraiit'y' or notches 241 and-whichis seeurea to the longitiidinal shaft M4 (Figs. 3, 9 anal-'1) assets in 'a cylindrica-l recess 242 mm cam; Pivotall-y mounted upon a pivot pin 244 carried by'the c'afii I86 is a pawl 24 8 one end of whichie adapted to enterone of the notches 241 of the collar and an abutment end 248 (Figs. 1, '7 am 8)" of'whih iitehels throug'h aslot ZED-in the cam: The pawl 246- isconstantly urged coiinterclockwise as viewed iii Fig; 8 by a springpres's'ed plunger 252;slida-b1e in a bore 253 of the cam I86; The pawl245 is normally urged to its idle positioii shown in Fig.8 by a depressor 254 having a lower face 255 which is engaged by the abutment end 2481 of the pawl to withdraw the pawl from orie of the notches 241 when the clutch is" engaged-arid the cam is being rotated by the Sha i'ft I44.

The'loade'r block [92' is mounted upon the arm We; which is vertically slidable upon anupright splined shaft 258 (Fig. 3) and which after being moved from alowe'red nail receiving position adjacent to a'nail tube holder (riot shown) of the machine is raised to a predetermined position shown in dashlines (Fig; 3) on said shaft, the shaft 258 thereafter beir'ig rotated iii a main frame of the heel attaching machine to effeot swinging movement of; the'loader' ar'nr lilil and aceor'dirigly corresponding movement of the load er block 1% to a position above the nailing die (not shown) of the machine preparatory to dumping nails received from the nail tube holder (not shown) into passages of the nailingdie. As the loader arm; I50 moves olockwise as viewed in Fig;- 3 withthe shaft"258 (Fig) 3') aplate26ll secured by a sorevf26-2' to the arm engages a U- shaped latch 2 54 (Figs; 2 and 3) rhoun-te-d upon a fulcrum pin 2%"supportedby' the'rod I83 which is-slidingly mounted in a bore; 268- of a bracket 2'70 constituting part of the distributor base 30. A pin 2-75 carried by the latch 254 isnorinally forced into ehga'geme'nt with the rod ts by an initially loaded spring 274- (Fig. 3) which enoir'cles the am 265 and bears with eonstantpressure against the-inside of the latch'r As the plate 260 swings clockwise" as viewed 3 it rides over and away from the latch 26-6 allowing the rod issi tomwe back'to its rest'positiori'sliown in a eesaas Fig. 3 with a shoulder of the bearihe against a shoulder 276 of the bracket-210 1m oer theaction'of a strong spriiig 2T8 which is pberatively cdfiheeted to the rod I38 and will bedes'oribed in detail later. As the loader arm swings counterclockwise back to its position (Fig; 3) preparatory to being lowered to apo'sitionadjacent to the nail tube holder (not shown) the Immerse engages an outer inclined face'of'the-latehwhich yields against the action of'the sprmg zia enammg the plateof the loader arin to override the latch;- which then assurh'es its position shoWh-in Fig. 3; The construction of the nail-loading ine'chan'i'sn'i just described is disclosedin detail in-1the above-mentioned application serial No. 281,392 aiidneed not be further desefibed hieih. V

The depressor" 254 is secured by screws 28?! (Fig 3)' to the ceritral sermoner a fulrum rod 282" (Figs; 1; 3, 7; 21 rid 225 which is supported for rotation in the base 39 and" has clamped to it a screw 294 a bloek 23G; EX tehding forward andrearwardthrough the upper portion of the block 286 is a recess 288 (Figs. 1, 7 21' and 22) comprisiria cylindrical and frusto-co'riical portiohs 2%, 292 the cylindrical portion having a shoulder 29 5-. When the nail distributor is idle and during a major portion of its operation a rod 295 screwed into a link 298 extends into'and engages the bottom of the,

cylindrical portion 2% off the recess 283 of the block'EBS; the rear end of the rod'beingarranged adjac'eiit to the shoulder 29 3 as shown in Figs. 21 and 22. The fulcrum rod 282 arid accordiri'gly the block 236 ahol the depressor 254 are biased to their positions shown inF'igs. 1, 21 and 22' in which the depressor 25 engages a stop 2%, by an initially loaded to'rtion spring 300 opposite ends of which are attaohed to the rod and to the base 30. The link 2% is'pivoted to the l p-Der end of a leyer 382 secured by a serew efl' l to a pivot pin 306' mounted iii the base 30, a lower end of said lever being pivoted tea link we into which'the operating rod mars threaded, said red as above explained being norrriallyurg'ed to the'rig'ht as viewed ih'Figs l, 21 and 22 by the tortion spring 218 onefend of whieh is at; tached tothe pivot pin 3% and the other end of which is attached to'the'b'a'se 38'; It will be apparent that when the rod 138' is ifioved'to the left as viewed iri'F-igs 1 3, 21 eliid'22it' -w' fill move the block 285 lockwise} causing the tiepressor'2'5'4 to' sw'iiig' away from the abutment end 268 of the pain 246 With the result that the pawl acted on by the spring-pressed'plunger 252 enters one of the recesses 241 or the collar 24H arid looks the cam 58% for rotatioi'i With the collar 248 and accordiiigly the shaft 4 5.

It will be' apparent that the rod 2'96 after swing ing the block 23Ei'to its position show'hin Fig. 7 slides 0ftthe shoulder 2 plunges" through the frusto-conic'a'l ree'ss 292, said rod heme immediately retracted td'its startinepositioii by the spring 210mm a p'ositioh iii which the end of the r d engages theb'ottoiri'ofthe' cyiindrieal recess 2% adjacent to its forward end.

In order to more that the depressor 254 shall not immediately shapf back against the abut'ni'eht end 243 the pawn are udder iii-s ction of the spring stafias so n as; the rdd 296 leaves me s oulder-woof the block 236; the ruler-prof rod 282 has securedto' it bytes straws 2th a; forward ly extendin bass? are in which is'sl idab le a spring-pressed plurieer 312; When theme-e1: 286 is moved clockwise to'itsposition shown and the depressor to be swung back to a retracted position against the stop 29$. When the depressor 254 is thus positioned it is engaged by the abutment end 233 of thepawl 243 as the cam completes one revolution, thereby withdrawing the pawl from the collar recess 24! in which it engages, and causing the cam H313 to be released from the shaft 144 and to come to rest.

The carrier M is made of aluminum and comprises the raceways 43 onto plateau or elevated portions 318 of which the nails 30 are dumped from the buckets 32 of the nail drum. 53. in order to advance the nails 50 down the slightly inclined plateau portions 3l6 (Figs. 1, 2, and 16) of the raceways 23, the carrier 43 is vibrated at a speed of approximately 1300 cycles per minute, the foreward and rearward displacement or vibratory amplitude of the carrier on the springs 38, 40 being varied by changing the throw of a compound eccentric 318 (Fig. 12). slide down the plateau portions 313 of the raceways 44 head or point ends leading, many of the nails lying crosswise of the raceways. In order to cause nails lying crosswise of the plateau portions 316 of the raceways 33 to be moved into said raceways or into recesses 323 (Fig. 2) which are formed between said plateau portions and through which the nails drop into a collecting pan 322 (Fig. 1) and back into the drum 53, there is provided a raceway clearer 324 (Figs. 1, 2 and 15) comprising a plurality of downwardly tapering prongs 326, the upper ends of which are extending into the recesses 323 between the raceways 46.

The prongs 323 of the clearer 324 are constantly swung lengthwise of the recesses 323 so long as the pulley Ed is rotated, thereby forcing nails straddling the plateau portions SIG of the raceways 45 into said raceways or knocking said nails through said recesses into the pan 322 as above explained. The clearer bar 328 has secured to its left end as viewed from the front of the machine an arm 336, the forward end of which is pivoted to a link 338 pivoted at its lower end to a coupling 3% (Figs. 1 and 2) having threaded into it a rod 332 (Figs. 1 and 17) slidable in a bore 333 (Fig. 17) of a screw 335 threaded into the lower end of a housing 346 which is threaded into the base 33. The lower end of the rod 342 is forced by a spring 3 38 against a cam 353 (Figs. 1, 3 and 17) which is pinned to a gear 352 rotatable upon the longitudinal shaft 156, a lower end of said spring engaging a pin tinuous operationof the raceway clearer 324 is The nails 5!! the operator into the pan 322,

past the end of the rod 342.

desirable in order that after stopping the nail drum 54 by moving the shift lever 162 to neutral position preparatory to changing nails, surplus nails on the raceways 46 may be knocked through the recesses 323 (Fig. 2) into the pan 322 (Fig. 1) and the nails in the raceways will be fed to the nailways 38 where they will be knocked by as will be explained later.

Secured to the left end of the clearer bar 328 as viewed from the front of the distributor is a depending arm 353 (Figs. 1, 2 and 15) which is operatively connected by a link 3311 to a depending arm. 36.2 secured to the left end of a clearer bar 334 rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 366 secured by screws to the carrier 33. Held in bores of the clearer bar by a retaining clip 368 (Figs. 2 and 15) are a plurality of tapered prongs 313 extending into recesses 312 between the nailways 48.

As the cam 353 rotates counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 17 the prongs 325, 310 swing slowly forward as the face 314 of the cam travels As the rod 342 drops over a shoulder 316 of the earn 350 it is forced downward suddenly under the action of the spring 348 against the face 314 causingthe prongs 326, 3113 to be swung rearward suddenly, with the result that the nails lying across the plateau portions 316 of the raceways 43 and across th nailways 38 are knocked into the raceways or nailways or into the recesses .320, 312 of the carrier 33 back into the pan 332 where they are returned to the nail drum 53'.

Any of the raceways 44 not desired to be used may be closed by positioning over them stops or clips 318 (Figs. 15 and 15B) which are sprung into place over the raceways 46 and have abutment or deflecting portions 333 which are engaged by leading nails sliding down the raceways. The stops or clips. 313 are claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,575,336, granted November 20, 1951 in the name of Edwin C. Eldred, Jr.

The raceways 4s comprise arcuate sluice portions 382 (Figs. 1, 2,15, 15A and 16) which curve downwardly from corners 383 formed by the sluice portions with the plateau portions 316 of the raceways. Arranged opposite the corners 384 of the raceways 4'5 is a balancing bar 388 having nail receiving slots 388 which are spaced by a gap 393 (Figs. 1, 15 and 16) from and are in alinement' with the plateau portions 316 of the raceways. It is desirable that the nails move head ends first in succession down the sluice portions 382 of the raceways 4'3 and down the nailways 48 and in order to reverse nails which slide point ends first off the plateau portions 3l6 of the raceways the balancing bar 386, is so spaced from the plateau portions of the raceways thatshould the nails slidehead ends first teau portions 315 of the raceways 33 they drop backward head-ends first, down the sluice portions of the raceway as indicated in dotted lines (Fig. 16) p The balancing bar 336 (Figs. 1, 2, 1 5 and 16) has securedto its opposite sides racks 392 which are -slid'ingly mounted guideways:= -394= of m'aunts 395 if threaded ontoscrews: 3.58 P:'(Figs; --.1

and -15) rotatahlymountedionfiheaning rpin'srflml se'eu'red tothe carrier M; guide piIISiF-OZL'SGCHEBCI to -the carrier and anran ged para'llel:tosthe'rbearing pins fitting sliding-1y: in: bores AMsof; the b1oehsa- Rot'atably mountedin eaehmf thezblocks it a pinion 40s meshing with an associatedairaok 392. It Wi-II'thuS be apparent that the'zbalaneing bar 385 *inay be :adjusted' lengthwise; dame emachine by rotating the shaft fifllfir'and .mayzhes raised or '1owered by rotating the screws 13'98tirthe. :racks 392 heingsecure in their adjusted. :positionstto the: blocksa 39:5 by. setscrews: ttfl which ane threaded intotrthe'hloeks' and are :constifuctedaand an-ranged to rnave their zendsrforeed into; enga mentwith the racks;

In :ordentodnsure against short; mailsssomersaulting' just after they travel head-endsiafirst CSVET- thB OOIHBISiOD edgesgstt. of themaeeways 4'6 4 the-balancing nausea-has seemedto :itganzahutment- 4411 which extends sd'owmvand swam the sluice-portions seal-er the raeewaysrae and ithen along :in spacexizrelationzwithisaidasluineaportidris.

Itrsometimes rhanp ensethatnthe mails aften slid-- ting:intuthehaikreceivingrslots 38$ (Figs:.s2;:l5

andsl a :ofthe balancing shari 3&6 dc? not-tipg bacie- 'wardx-head-xends fifshfiintd. thesluiee portions rtfivi of the; ra'ceways- 4 9' 1218 above (dScIfibd-T". Inxorder t'oivguide suchrnails whichrende -"along {the nail re'eeivingfslcits';3818:andnfmheiorwarmendsof the arexfoi'med separately from (17119, rca-nrlieia M. wand are readily-secured in'ronerating,'positionsvin-rthe scarnienr. The mailways' 4h ehaverrearwartd extensions,::si29'u(Figs.a1'5 anc1n15. i);v :fittine timslots .14 252 '(E'ign 15A 10f: a header 4Z4 seeunefl to-:a ;-ra)bbetjd Slowen end of) he sluioeiepertinhsflflfi bfiffihaztaGe- "wa-ysmts EbYzSCZIWSflQfi Whichpas'e thr'ouahwparti tions, #23: L012 :thelr raeewaysrand intn ethe :header. Before L being: plaeed tdn-zthe. carrier-:4 1 rthe snaii- "ways Mirarer-assemblerlaim the 422 of :this

header-.142 4: and :are secured irizsaid islotsfnuts fthiteadedsiontao Leshaped xgretaining; studs: 1- 4&2

'whieht-are-dnseiztedinalateralzzhoreseofz:the nail.- -Ways and ipasswithrough verticahbores sin: the headers: Threaded into :twowor more ot therparti- "florist-4:28 aretscrews 411% which :beanaupontheatop of. theinailway extensions (42 ,fisaidsscmwsrseming towbringtherforward ends oftheinailwaysfllitiup iinto; alinemerrtnwith passagestxor;z'guideiwaysmiitfi m1. tl'IBJIlBiiIIIiUHiZIfiAZ In incorporating mailways winzthe-earrier the forward pairaotscrews 4Z6 aneltightened attera :whieh thexscrews"Harare-ad- .justeci;.to. move rthei io'rward-(end's :of the: nailway's upg-ginto; al-inement; withdshe nail srol-l :passagesfl 313. The rear: pair; f escrews 426;rare zthencztightened to-tcclamn the nai1ways--4 8i Jtheinadjusted open 'ating,-positions-. The -nailways -t8qmay hew-considered part of the raceways 46 but are. identified separately in the description; since; =th.e-y-: are .not formedcinteetaltmththeearrier and con- 12 struction::is.islightlyrdiffienent :from; Lthat of .cthe raceways. ..Bnth'ithearacewayslzt-fi f-aridz-the. nail- Ways '48 rmay be sconsideredrias mail: guides; and describedas such;

The trunnion? portions *2 38- 50f the mail; rollim'fi which .may also -be zreferi ed toras a seletonware 'mounte'd foi rocking movement inbores' .438, 238A (Figs-. 1,12 522116.15)": virhichnareaformed: in the carrierwfilfi anddn bearing;.b1neks Mfl-detachablygse- 5), to the 1051532161: anevlatches 4M ;(Figs.zl, 4;and 5) having 'cylindricalz shanks: 4'45 -.(Fig.':5); .slidab-le in "btores" M3 formedinrthe ibearing blocksqtma. The

upper end of vthe shank 4460f eachlotthe latches ha'ssaysl'et- 1459- ;(Fig: 14).; ifortreseivingra ide'tent #552 '(FigsmLA and .5): pivotailwmounted .upomahin secured.twsaid:shanl When thezbloch sxflw have beenzplaceainrtheinrproper pperatihgfpm h timisnverr the. shanks 456m "th'eklatohes 4% the farmed in. the bloeks with? the-lower, iacesz-ofthe detents :inwengagement with. the-Joottom's'. of zthe slotsbh Tlie -idetents 452 are 'cons-tanthl urged clockwise as .viewecl in Fig. .5 into .th'e'slotsjflt :by

springs 453,Irespectiue1y, the lower ends Ofa:Whi'C11 are: secured ate the shanks Mi v and the-tupper I 8I11Sn0f which. engage the detents. The nail @011 the, CEL-PliBl '44. amen-removing-thehbearinggbloehs M9 iwhiehr are thereafter; slid: down 1 over: the shanks i -"25 of thedatches; r543} ragai-nst .the trunthen being .garrang'evh toienter; the slots 45 B in-the blocks to 1 hold hsaidrbleoksz in .cthein operating 13pm sitions. After; the :nailre-11.434hasvbeentproperty journal-led in the camiier 4 t which-maybe ssaid to ineludesthe rblochs 44:0,? thedink 23 2 ..piuote.d to the armr 2 34 secured to the, left? trunnion portion 238 101" the -ro11; is; adjusted ;to: position ith'e :nail passagess llit-tof the roll I 34 inialinement with-it-he lowerends of the-.nailways 48;

When v short -.nails- -are, -being 3.; distributed :the conventionai typeoi roll 134 isused, said r011 hauing-the transverse passages fiiifilh'igs 4,- 6 End-T15) which extendfrom the -rea1i1cylindrica1=.=pe1'iphery of then-r011 -v to a a segmental cutout portion :defined byaiaiaeet lfimin which. the't'passages terminate-amt a face 46.2 which .is continuous withitthe lower faces. 10f; the passages Secured tonthe left trunnion portion 238 of the roll I34, as'lwiewed which ,isnnerativelx v conneeted :touthe; r011; 11%. Whentthescam I 88 kisasrotated 'c1ochwise,.:as iviewed rfrom lthefnont; of the. distributor;thiernailzrohi1-34,

,inthe:i assagesv 4&6, \ot1Whie111the'nai1s ires with their zheacl-endskinz enga ement: .wi-tha vnailz-stop 454 muiigscvl, 4, 5,6 and 1-8) ,1; 1s, {rotated-ecumenclockwise (Fight?) ,causing the nails to *bewdumped into the conduits .204 Whichare for med-vby front slotted portionsh lfie; of the: casniea-andrearyfaces 4618, ,of projecting ribs or flangeswofia front gate besdescribedwas having ,interfitting; slot and tongue. portionsfl- The nail stop464 is secured at its opposite ends:;to rods-41 2 whicharefi slidingly mounted in =bores-fof )holders 4-14 and: are nor;

lnally urged; rearward; that is;l tonthe rightas viewed'i-nzFigssl, 5.and18,1by springs 41:6. The nail stop "45 4--is formed--i-ntegr.a1' ,With a "plate 41:8

covering the :uppen end ofithe front gate M01; The

ting: initront 'orrrear pairs ofigrooves (informed step beirig commonly :forc'ed "yielding-1y against 311111261 ,iacesof the front slottedmortionflw of the 13 carrier 44 by springs 482 which are interposed between the front gate and nuts 484 threaded onto bolts 486 passing through elongated recesses 488 in the front gate and secured to the holders 474. The illustrated nail stop 464 is set for handling relatively long nails but may be moved to a rearward position with relation to the nail roll I34 by lifting the holders 4M against the action of the springs 482 and positioning the downwardly extending flanges of the holders into the rear rooves 480. This will enable the distributor to handle short nails which may be only slightly longer than the length of the passages 436 of the nail roll I34, the nail stop 464 thus positioned resting upon the face 462 of the nail roll and during the nail dumping operation yielding forwardly against the action of the springs 416 under pressure applied by the face 450 of the roll against the nail stop as said roll rotates counterclockwise (Fig. 6) to dump the nails into the conduits 468.

As will be explained presently, the front gate 410 is pivotally adjusted with relation to the carrier 44 in accordance with the lengths of the nails being distributed to vary the lengthwise cross- 1 sectional dimension indicated by reference numeral 495 (see Fig. 18) of the conduits 204 to insure against nails somersaulting in said conduits and in order to vary the space between the nail stop 464 and the nail roll 34. The conduits 264 which are formed by the slots 492 at the front portion of the carrier and the rear faces 468 of rearwardly projecting flanges or ribs of the front gate 410 have downwardly converging upwardly diverging front and rear faces the width of the conduits remaining constant.

It has been found that if the dimension 4% of the conduit 264 is somewhat greater than the length of the nail there is a tendency for said nail to somersault in the conduit and accordingly fall wrong end foremost, that is, point end down into the tube 56. With the foregoing in View, the front gate 474 is movable forward and rearward into different angularly adjusted positions about an axis 454 (Figs. 4, 5 and 18) of trunnions 496 formed integral with said gate, in accordance with the length of the nails being handled, the nail stop 464 being adjusted with the gate. The axis 494 may be described as extending generally lengthwise of the nail roll I54 and carrier 44 and having bores 56!] (Figs. 5 and 18) for receiving the trunnions 456 of said gate. The brackets 458 are also provided with bores 562, 564 which slidingly fit onto pins 546 and screws 508 (Fig. 5) secured to the carrier, the screws 555 having threaded onto their outer ends nuts 5H}. Coiled around the screws 586 and surrounding the screws and interposed between the plates 486 and the nuts 555 are portions of springs 512 opposite laterally extending ends of which en gage the plates and the carrier and serve to force the plates against fiat vertical surfaces of the carrier. The front gate 470 can be quickly removed from the carrier by manually moving the brackets 498 laterally outward against the action of the springs 5i2 to cause withdrawal of the bores 505 of the brackets from the trunnions 496.

A. latch 5H4 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) is provided for adjustably securing the front gate 416 in different adjusted posiitons about the axis 464 of the trunnions 496. The latch 514 comprisesa block;

M6 pivoted upon a pin 5|8 carried by the front gate 410 and constantly urged upward about said pin by a torsion spring 520 a portion of which is attached to the pin and another portion of which bears against the under part of a stud 522 carried by the block. Rotatably mounted in an undercut recess 524 of the block 5|6 is a knurled nut 526, said nut and block having alinedl bores for receiving a rod 528, the front portion of which is threaded into the nut and the rear end of which has a slot. 530 for receiving a pin 532 secured tothe carrier 44. The front gate 414 may be lowered away from the carrier 44 after raising the rod 526 away from the pin 532 and the angularly adjusted position of the front gate upon the carrier may be varied by rotating the nuts 526.

Power for vibrating the carrier 44 is supplied by the belt i393 which operates a pulley 534 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12) forming part of the shaker' shaft assembly I36. An inner portion 536 (Fig. 12) of the pulley 534 is keyed to a hollow shaft or sleeve 536 which is rotatable in ball bearings 540 mounted in the carrier 44 and which has an cecentric portion 542 provided with grooves 544 for receiving tongues 546 of an eccentric portion 548 of a shaft 555 rotatable in bearings 552 of the carrier 44. The hollow shaft or sleeve 538 and the shaft 554 are rotatable about a common axis 554 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14) and form in efiect a single shaft and have eccentric portions 556, 558 respectively which are offset axially from the eccentric portions 542, 548. Each of the eccentrio portions 556, 558 is of the same size as, and is offset circumferentially of the shaft 180 from, the adjacent half of the combined eccentric portions 542, 545. It will thus be clear that the combined shaft 536, 556 itself is dynamically balanced.

Mounted upon the eccentric portions 556, 558 are counterweights 560 which, as will be explained later, serve dynamically to balance the drive shaft assembly {36. The periphery of the eccentric portions 542, 548 is centered about a line 562 (Figs. 13 and 14A.) parallel to the axis 554 and has adjustably mounted on it an eccentric 564 (Figs. 12 and 13) which is centered about a line 566 parallel to the axis 554 and which has mounted on it an inner race 56%? (Fig. 12) of a ball bearing 5T0. Secured to an outer race 5Y2 of the ball bearing 576 is a connecting rod 574 riveted to a heavy resisting or reacting weight 576 (Figs. 1, 2 and 11) secured by bolts 513 to the lower ends of leaf springs 5643 (Figs. 1 and 11) upper ends of which are secured by bolts 582 (Figs. 2 and 11) to the carrier 44. The leaf springs 58, 40 and 5810 may be described as having sides which face generally lengthwise of the nail guides and of the path of vibration of the carrier.

An outer portion of the pulley 534 carries a plurality of guide pins 584 (Fig. 12) which extend transversely through the inner portion 536 of the pulley, the outer portion of said pulley being urged constantly toward the inner portion .of the pulley by a spring 586 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12) to close a belt receiving groove 588 (Fig. 12)

Fitting in a bore 550 of the sleeve 538, which bore is concentric with the axis of rotation 554 is an adjusting rod 592 which may be rotated into different adjusted positions about said axis by the use of a suitable toolfitting in a transverse hole 594 (Fig. 12) in the outer end portion of the rod. The rod 552 is secured in different adjusted positions in the sleeve 538 by a nut 596 F & sai w iehi th e d d i a Split on a line 601, which passes through the center of mass of the two-part counterweight and is parallel to the axis 554, is a semicircle 609 (Fig. 1411), the inner end of which coincides with the axis 554. It will thus be clear, when a line 6 indicating the angle alpha of adjustment of the eccen tric 564 and the two-part counterbalance about their respective eccentric portions is drawn through the axis 554 intersecting the semicircles 603 and-609, which represent the loci of the cen ters of unbalanced mass of the eccentric 564 and an adjacent half of its connecting rod on the one hand and the'tWo-part counterweight on the other hand,'that said centers of mass are equidistant from theaxis 554 irrespective of the angle of" adjustment and, since the masses areequal, the two unbalancedmasses will counterbalance each other, thereby insuring that the shaker shaft assembly l36is at all times counterbalanced.

' The variable displacement drive and the mechanism for dynamically balancing said drive forms the subject-matter of United States Letters Patent No. 2,561,344, granted July 24, 1951, on an application filed in our names.

When the pulley belt I38 (Figs. 1, 3,9 and 12) rendered ineffective upon actuation of the nail roll driving mechanism above described, there is a; tendencyfor the shaker shaft assembly I36 to continue to rotate. Accordingly, there is secured to the outer end of the fulcrum pin 228 (Fig. 1) an arm 613 which is connected by a spring 615 to a brake lever 6|! which is pivoted upon a pin 619 secured to the carrier. During the first part of the c1ockwise'(Fig. 1) nail roll dumpingmovernent of the pivot pin 226 the brake lever 6H is moved counterclockwise against a drum 62! securedto the shaft 550, thereby stopping rotation of said shaft as soon as the belt has become inactive.-

Nail distributors heretofore proposed have not been able tohandle nails longer than 22/8, one of the difficulties being that such nails cannot be vibrated down the raceways and effectively dumped into the conduits fast'enough to keep up with the operation of the machine being served. By making the carrier 44 smooth and even phased, in its operation, together with increasing considerably the rate of vibration of said carrier, longer nailscan be handled by the present distributor-than by prior distributors.

Shoe manufacturers have recently-been called upon to attach to shoesheels which require nails 28/8 inches in length. When nails of such length are" used it is desirable to modify the present machine as will be hereinafter described. Extremelyfhighheels are commonly attached to shoesrbysevennails and since the illustrated ,carri'erz44has fourteen raceways 46 and nailways 48 it is. proposed to pick nails alternately from adja'centnailways and to cause them to dropinto adjacent conduits 2114 (Figs. 4, 6 and 18) connected to branches-6H; (Figs. 18 and 19.)of tubes 6-18.: (Fig. 1.9) .which are secured at; their lower ends to the above-mentioned foot. plate (not fjthown). iWith; such a construction. it. will be fapparent that since the nails: are removed froma tributors now widel bearing blocks 440 being quickly removed from the carrier 44 preparatory to removing the roll I34 and substituting for it said cylindrical roll. In effecting this changeover it also is necessary, after placing the bearing blocks 440 in position upon the carrier 44, to attach, to a left trunnion portion 622 (Fig. 19) of the nail roll, operating mechanism illustrated in Figs. 18, 19, 19A, 20 and 21. i

The cylindrical nail roll 620 has extending through itat equal distances from planes 624, 626 (Fig. 20) which are disposed at right angles to each other and extend through an axis of rotation 628 of the roll, two longitudinal series of pairs of nail passages 630 (Figs. 18, 19 and 20); The pairsfiof passages 630 of one longitudinal series are disposed at right angles to and are alternately staggered longitudinally and circum ferentially with relation to the pairs of passages of the other longitudinal series. Nails delivered by alternate nailways 48 are received head ends first as illustrated in Fig. 18 by the rear ends of the passages 630 which correspond to the passages 436 of the roll I34, said passages 63!], when receiving nails, being positioned just above theaxis of rotation 628 of the roll and being inclined at the same angle,approximately 5. as the nail ways 48.

Instead of oscillating or rocking the nail roll 620 as in the case of the roll I34 above described, the roll 620 is rotated 90 in two stages during each cycle of the heel attachingmachine being served by the distributor. The lever 230 (Figs. 1, 3, 7, 21 and 22) which is actuated. by the shaft 228, has operatively connected toits upper end mechanism which willbe presently described and cooperates with spaced ratchets 632, 634 secured to a collar 635 keyed to the roll 620, the arrangement being such that the roll is rotated about its axis 628 (Figs. 19 and 20) counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 18 approximately to cause the nails which are in the passages 630 and have their ends in engagement with the nail stop 464 (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 13) to be dumped into the conduits 204. After a slight dwell in the dumping position the roll 620 again moves 15 counterclockwise, bringing upper passages 630, of the longitudinally and circumferentialiy offset pairs of passages arranged at right angles to the passages iromwhich the nails have been dumped, into alinement with nailways 48 ad acent to the nailways 48 which supplied the prior load of nails. A above explained, adjacent conduits 204 which may be considered as portions of the branches 6l6 of the tubes 6i8 are connected to said tubes, each of said tubes receiving in succession nails, first from one and then from the other of adjacent nailways 48. Since the illustrated distributor has fourteen raceways 46 and nailways 48 it will be apparent that each time the associated heel attaching machine is operated seven nails are dropped through the seven tubes NB. This number can be increased if desirable by placing a similar distributor above the illustrated distributor, such additional dis- ,tributor being operated by the belt H4 to drive i a. pulley similar to the pulley 80. r

In the illustrated machine the angleat which thenailways 48 are inclined to the horizontal is about5 as compared with an angle of 15 which is the angle at which the nailways of disy'in use aredisposed to the able to reduce the incline of or distinct advantage since horizontal." Tobe the nailways 48 1s the upper end of the lever 230 a pair of adpawl 65 en a s. one of;

19 such reduction lessons o a onsiderabl exten the ten ncy of th nails deliv red irom e slui portions 3 i he racewa s .6 to rid o er each other as they enter the upper p rtions of the hallways- In o d r t rotate. the nail roll 520 st p by step in one direction to effieot proper dumping of nails int t tub s 18 there. is pivoted to g, able r ds 63 3 gs .8. 2 and. 22) the fo Watd ends of which are piv ed. to paw oarhy na P at s 6 6 2 ioumale l upon, the. collar 6.3.5 and ar anged between th rateh ts 6 set.

.Pivotally m unt d. upon. studs 5. 14., 646 Bias 9 9A, 21 a d, 2. car ied by he. plates 54%. and biased bysprihss 6 .8,, e50. towa cd the ratehets 63.2,. 6.34 a epawls 65.2 654. moun e ma guide 65 secured to th is a detent, 65.8 havi g a-slot 66.0 for reoeivina a tud 662 which is carried. y the guide and is cons an ly urg d. forward. by asprin $614. the cam I8 is pera ed i resse. to actuation f. the a l load r arm. 190 3. as above describ d; the lever 23 m ves elo hwise immi s p sit on il ustrated in la. .Zl ans a the haw-l 654 on th pla 54 to mo -the e counterclockwise as iew d in Fig... 6,, to lump nailsithen in one of the longitudinal series of passages; t3!) of. said. oll, nto conduits 2-04 and eausinaone o tw eth of th detent 8 to-en age on oi p ur l y f no ch s 666 in the ratchet ass to ho d he l position.

Wh n. e lev r 230 reaches the rear end of its str e the pawl 65.2 is a r ge on. the. enter or cylind cal face ot the. hatchet 532 (Fi 22.) and during he fir par of; the tor-ward or-retractive movemen f the lever 2.3.0 aid pawl;- rlcles. on said cylindrical surface to allow h 1911 6 to dwell w le the nails are bein eumhedt the detent 858 Keep th roll und r con rol dining said dwell.

As the l er on ues. to swing iorware the not hes. .Of the ratchet 6.3.2 ausi g the Hal 1 roll ta l to mote an additional 15 countereloehwise as; viewedin Fig. lfit aline na l passa es Be les the other series oi p i s of passages; with the railways 4.5, themachin then coming to. rest,

Tlhere may he used; place of; the. roll- 6250 a roll 668 which is, illustrated i Fig. 20A and h s ormed. in it. tw lohgi. e e ng passages 6. .0 .ehd; t lhhfillersely th ugh the rel-1, thepassaees of said series lying in longitudinal median planeg respeetively of the, roll which ar arrange at, he'htangles to. one another, the, passages of; one of said series of passag s being, offs ongitudinally ancl circnne felenti'ally from. the passages .;f the other series.

Wh a wi ch (hot-shown) has. been turned on, an electric. motor (not shown-i drives, the belt 53 which s nhlies t we to: vibrating.- the c rri r 44, ro a iha the-nail 54:, and open stin the. nail o l I534 and. theraceway and: nailway clearers. Thenails;5,.5 are dumped from the buc e v 52'. f the na l. deem. 5.4 onto the upp r ends of the raoeways and, travel down the raceways and the nail-ways 4,6. into the passages 4.36 of. the nail roll. .134... When the loader" block arm Hill f e heel attaeh he hsiachinewsemed by the distributor mQYQswclQQkWiSE as viewedin Fig. 3, it. causes the one, revolution clutoh housed series of: nail hail roll heel: o its nail receiving p sition :Duh ha the cycle of operation-of the nail roll 134 the sha e shaftv assembly I is rendered inactive to stop vibration of the carrier 4% When the nail roll I34 arrives at its nail receiving position he shale-er shaft assembly We is again rendered aotive to auseathe carrier 44 again to be vibrated and nails to be led.- nto the p ges 4360i the nail roll 1.34 preparatory to dumping the new lead of ails when the loader block arm" .1550; is again actuated.

Tlhe invention having thus been: described what is claimed as new and what it isdesired to secure by Letters Batent of the United States is;

1. In a nail distributor, a cylindrical nail roll having a longitudinal. series of pairs of paral l hail receiving passages which extend transversely through the roll, the passages. of each of said Pairs of passages being arrangedin alinement circiimferentially of the roll and being. spaced equal distances at opposite sides respectively of. a plane which. extends longitudinally thnough the roll and includesxa diameter of said roll.

2. In a nail distributor, a cylindrical nail roll having two longitudinal series of nail resolving passages which extend transversely through the roll, the passages of said series lying in longl-J tud-inal median planes respectively 0.1?- the roll arranged. at. right. angles, to one another, the.

passages of one of said series being offset. lonel sages, which extend transversely through theroll;

of said one series. being spaced equal distances at opposite sides respectively eta media-n longi tndinal'. plane of the roll, the airs oi passages of the other series, being parallel to each other.

and the passage of each pair of saidseriesb mg,

sp ced equ l distances at pposite sides respee tively of a median longitudinal. plane of the-roll; arranged at. righ angles to the. first-named Plane, the. pairs of. passages of one series. being statsgered longitudinally anaoireumfenentlally oi the roll with relation to the. pairs-of. nassaaes otherseries.

4s Ina nail, distribution a-cyllnclriealnail mellhaving on series f pairs of parallel passages which extend. transversely through the roll and are. spaced equal di tances from a. plane the an. axis of; the. roll, and-a. second SQJlifiSi'Qfl pairs of parall l passages which;v extend trans-- vetsely through the roll and are spaced: equal d stanees from a. plane. containingsaid; axis at therolliahd disposed. at right. angles, toz'thet first named plane; the; pairs. of" passagesuoi saidi one' s ries being ofiseti lengthwise and; ctmurrmerens tlally of: the. roll from the passages of said. seoend: series of. pairs. of. passages.

5.. .In a'na-il (distributor; a cylindrical roll hav his, two, longitudinally arranged series ot inail receiving passages: which extend transversely through the roll, the passages oflonel oflsaidi series. being: offset; longitudinally and clreumfer entially 0x: the. roll from the passages of the other series, a plurality-o1: nail tubeseae'h haw m a. pairzof branches, and means for rotating the roll step; by" step. to:- move the passa es? the twosexies alternatelyinto positions in which 

